Skip to main content
Log in

Supercyclone in Orissa: An Assessment of Psychological Status of Survivors

  • Published:
Journal of Traumatic Stress

Abstract

The study assessed the impact of the Orissa supercyclone on survivors' locus of control, anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress. The study was conducted in structured interview sessions 3 months after the supercyclone. The affected people (n = 65) who were close to the epicenter of supercyclone and lost their family members, relatives, and property, experienced more anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress than the unaffected (n = 65) who were away from the epicenter of supercyclone and had not experienced any loss. Effects of exposure remained significant with the effects of sex and neuroticism controlled. External support reduced anxiety and depression, and the amount of loss experienced by the survivors significantly increased external locus of control and anxiety.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Altman, B. (1988). A generalized external control expectancy in Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: A new hypothesis. Dissertation Abstracts International, 49/03-B, 906.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beck, A. T. (1967). Depression. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boehnlein, J. K., & Kinzie, J. D. (1997). Cultural perspectives on posttraumatic stress disorder. In T. W. Miller (Ed.), Clinical disorders and stressful life events (pp. 19–43). Madison, MT: International University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Breslau, N., Davis, G. C., Andreski, P., Peterson, E. L., & Schultz, L. R. (1997). Sex differences in posttraumatic stress disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 54, 1044–1048.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Silva, P. (1999). Cultural aspects of post-traumatic stress disorder. In W. Yule (Ed.), Post-traumatic stress disorders: Concepts and therapy (pp. 116–138). Chichester, England: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eysenck, H. J. (1959). Manual for Maudsley Personality Inventory. Reprinted in India, 1993: Author.

  • Freedy, J., Hobfoll, S., & Ribbe, D. (1994). Life events, war and adjustment: Lessons for the middle east. Anxiety, Stress, and Coping, 7, 191–203.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldberger, L., & Breznitz, S. (Eds.) (1982). Handbook of stress. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ho, C. N. (1998). The effects of generational status and acculturation on self-reporting of traumatic experiences and symptoms in nonclinical Asian population. Dissertation Abstracts International, 59/09-B, 5086.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joseph, S. A., Yule, W., & Williams, R. M. (1993). Posttraumatic stress: Attributional aspects. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 6, 501–513.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanungo, R. N., & Jaeger, A. M. (1990). Introduction: The need for indigenous management in developing countries. In A. M. Jaeger & R. N. Kanungo (Eds.), Management in developing countries (pp. 1–19). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • McFarlane, J. R., & Clayer, C. L. (1997). Psychiatric morbidity following a natural disaster: An Australian bushfire. Booklets of Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 32, 261–268.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meichenbaum, D. (1995). Disaster, stress and cognition. In S. E. Hobfoll & M. W. de Vries (Eds.), Extreme stress and communities: Impact and intervention (pp. 33–61). Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic.

    Google Scholar 

  • Najarian, L. M., Goenjian, A. K., Pelcovitz, D., Mandel, F. S., & Najarian, B. (1996). Relocation after a disaster: Posttraumatic stress disorder in America after the earthquake. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 35, 374–383.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norris, F. H. (1992). Epidemiology of trauma: Frequency and impact of different potentially traumatic events on different demographic groups. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 60, 409–418.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norris, F. H., & Kaniasty, K. Z. (1996). Received and perceived social support in times of stress: A test of social support deterioration deterrence model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 71, 498–511.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norris, F. H., Perilla, J. L., Ibañez G. E., & Murphy, A. D. (2001). Sex differences in symptoms of post-traumatic stress: Does culture play a role? Journal of Traumatic Stress, 14, 7–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perilla, J. L., Norris, F. H., & Lavizzo, E. A. (2002). Ethnicity, culture, and disaster response: Identifying and explaining ethnic differences in PTSD six months after Hurricane Andrew. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 21, 20–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phifer, J., & Norris, F. H. (1989). Psychological symptoms in older adults following natural disaster: Nature, timing, duration, and course. Journal of Gerontology, 44, S207-S217.

    Google Scholar 

  • Powell, J. W., & Rayner, J. (1952). Progress notes: Disaster investigation, July 1, 1951—June 30, 1952. Edgewood: Army Chemical Center Corps, Medical Laboratories.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quintana, R. A. (1997). Developing a culturally sensitive treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder for Hispanic clients. DissertationAbstracts International, 58/06-B, 3325.

    Google Scholar 

  • Revenue Department, Government of Orissa. (2000, July). White paper on relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction work after 1999 supercyclone and flood (published in Oriya language). Government of Orissa: Author.

  • Rotter, J. B. (1966). Generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement. Psychological Monographs, 80 (Whole No. 609).

  • Solomon, Z., Mikulincer, M., & Benbenishty, R. (1989). Locus of control and combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder: The intervening role of battle intensity, threat appraisal and coping. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 28, 131–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Speilberger, C. D., Gorsuch, R. L., & Lushene, R. E. (1970). STAI manual for the state-trait anxiety inventory. California: Consulting Psychologists Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Staab, J. P., Grieger, T. A., Fullerton, C. S., & Ursano, R. J. (1996). Acute stress disorder, subsequent posttraumatic stress disorder and depression after a series of typhoons. Anxiety, 2, 219–225.

    Google Scholar 

  • Triandis, H. C. (1996). The psychological measurement of cultural syndromes. American Psychologist, 51, 407–415.

    Google Scholar 

  • Triandis, H. C. (1999). Cross-cultural psychology. Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 2, 127–143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tyhurst, J. S. (1957). Psychological and social aspects of civilian disasters. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 76, 385–393.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waitzkin, H., & Magana, H. (1997). The black box in somatization: Unexplained physical symptoms, culture, and narratives of trauma. Social Science and Medicine, 45, 811–825.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wheaton, B. (1982). A comparison of the moderating effects of personal coping resources on the impact of exposure to stress in two groups. Journal of Community Psychology, 10, 293–311.

    Google Scholar 

  • Young, J. C. (1985). A comparative study of posttraumatic stress disorder in Vietnam veterans. Dissertation Abstracts International, 46/12-B, 4420.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

About this article

Cite this article

Suar, D., Mandal, M.K. & Khuntia, R. Supercyclone in Orissa: An Assessment of Psychological Status of Survivors. J Trauma Stress 15, 313–319 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016203912477

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016203912477

Navigation